It's the latest challenge for the Kings, up against the NHL salary cap after two Stanley Cup championships, in 2012 and 2014. Their elimination in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs to the San Jose Sharks came after they led the Pacific Division for much of last season.
"I think this year, especially, we all have to come in and earn our spots," Toffoli said. "After the past two seasons, it's a disappointment for us. We know what we had, especially last year. We let ourselves down."
Los Angeles did make other news off the ice. Kings coach Darryl Sutter agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with a third-year option on May 13. Center Anze Kopitar was named captain, in place of Dustin Brown, and won his first Selke Trophy. Defenseman Drew Doughty, likely to be an alternate captain, won his first Norris Trophy.
To Toffoli, the awards were further proof that the Kings have perhaps the best foundation in the NHL with Kopitar, Doughty and goalie Jonathan Quick. Toffoli, who outscored Kopitar by six goals in the regular season, is a huge part of the Kings' future, assuming they can sign him to an extension before his contract expires next summer.
Toffoli has become a face for the Kings in community events. Last summer, he and Carter hosted Special Olympics athletes from Barbados and Macedonia at the practice facility. Last month, he made an appearance at the Nickelodeon "Kids' Choice Sports Awards," and on Friday he will participate in the Los Angeles Dodgers' Kings Night.
Before taking the ice at the youth camp, Toffoli took individual photos with each camper. He knows what it means because he remembers skating with former Toronto Maple Leafs players at camps when he was growing up in the Toronto area.
"I want to go out there and help out as much as I can," he said. "When you see the kids and how excited they get and even their parents come in seeing their kids with me and some of the other guys, it's a good feeling. It makes us pretty happy."
